Fifth-wheel



Patented Jan. 3|, |899.

W. KNAPP. Fl FTH WH EE L. Application :um o. 17, ..1898.)

(No Model.)

18 17 26 (9 Wz/'netssed PATENT i VILLIAM KNAPP, OF CINCINNATI, QHIO.

FIFTH-WHEEL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 618,467, dated January31, 1899.

Application filed October 1'7, 1898. Serial No. 693,740. (No model.) v

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, WILLIAM KNAPP, a citizen of the United States,residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State'of Ohio,have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Fifth-Wheels; and Ido declare the following to be a full, clear, and ex-l act descriptionof the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to'make and use the same, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon,which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in fifth-wheels forvehicles, and particularly in that class of these devices wherein theking-bolt is mounted to the rear of the axle; and the object of theinvention is to provide a iifth-wheel of this general character whichshall be of a simple and inexpensive construction and of a strong anddurable nature.

The invention consists in certain novel features of construction,combination, and arrangement of the several parts of the improvedfth-wheel, whereby certain important advantages are attained and thedevice is made simpler, cheaper, and otherwise better adapted and moreconvenient for use, all as will be hereinafter fully set forth.

The novel features of the invention will be carefully defined in theclaims.

In the accompanying drawings, which serve to illustrate my invention,Figure 1 is a plan View showing a fifth-wheel embodying my improvements,and Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is a plan viewshowing the upper circle and connected parts detached. Fig. 4 is a planView showing the lower brace or cross-bar of the device detached.l Fig.5 is a plan view showing the lower circle and connected parts detached.Fig. 6 is an enlarged sectional view taken vertically in the plane ofthe king-bolt axis and showing the arrangement of the eyes wherein thesame is held. Fig. 7 is an enlarged section taken transversely throughthe axle and bed and showing the construction of the clip for holdingthe lower circle thereon. Fig. S is an enlarged detail sectional viewshowing the means for connecting the forward end of the perch-iron tothe head-block plate.

In the views,'1 indicates the axle, and 2 the axle-bed mounted thereon.

3 indicates the head-block or bolster, and

4 4 indicate the reaches.

5 indicates the head-block plate or rest extending under and secured atits ends to the head-block or bolster 3, being made integral with theupper circle 6 and provided at its forward and rear sides withperforated lugs 7 to receive the lower ends of bolts (not shown) bymeans of which the spring is secured in place on the bolster. Y

' 3 indicates the lower circle of the fifth- Wheel, having at oppositesides countersunk eyes 9 9 for the passage of bolts 10, by means ofwhich said circle is secured in place on the axle and bed. The bolts 10are arranged to extend down on opposite sides of the axle and bed, andin order to hold them spaced away from these parts I provide the underside of said circle 8 with depending lugs or fingers 11, which lie flushagainst the sides of the axle-bed and are recessed on their outersurfaces to receive said bolts 10. The lower circle S-is also braced andstrengthened by means of an upper brace or cross-bar 12, which extendsacross it and is made integral with said circle, being provided at itscentral part with an eye or socket 13 to receive the king- -bolt 14,which turns therein and is carried at its upper end in a squared socketor eye 15, extending from the head-block plate or rest 5 on the rearside of the head-block or bolster 3.

16 indicates the lower brace or cross-bar, having a central eye 17alined with the eye 13 of the upper cross-bar 12 and also adapted toreceive the king-bolt 14, which turns therein. The ends of said lowerbrace or cross-bar 16 arev constructed with integral clip-ties 18,arranged to extend forward under the axle 1 and perforated for thepassage of the bolts 10, by means of which the lower circle 8 is securedin place. The lower ends of said bolts 10 are provided with nuts 19, asclearly shown in the drawings.

20 indicates the lower perch iron or brace, made with a central eye toreceive the lower end of the king-bolt '14 and having arms which extendup divergently and are secured at their rear ends under the forward endsof the reaches 4, as clearly seen in Fig. 2. The

IOO

king-bolt 14 is threaded and provided with a nut 21 at its lower end,and in order to insure a proper turning movement of the eyes upon oneanother said eyes are provided with reciprocal bosses and recesses to beengaged with said bosses in the ordinary way.

22 22 indicate the upper perch irons or braces, secured at their rearends to the upper faces of the reaches 4 and each constructed with alongitudinal channel or recess 23 in its under side. The irons or braces22 are bent up at their forward ends and are connected integrally to 'atie-plate 24, adapted to be secured by means of bolts or the like to therear face of the bolster or head-block 3, and said tie-plate 24 isextended at its lower part, as clearly shown in Fig. 8, across the endof the channel or recess 23 in each perch iron or brace 22 to forni astop 25, integral therewith and adapted to engage in front of a lug orear 2G, formed on the upper face of the head-block plate or rest 5,which is made wider at its central part than the bolster or head-blockwhich rests upon it, so that said plate or rest 5 projects on the rearside of the bolster, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and 8.;

The lugs or ears 26 are arranged, as shown in Fig. 3, at opposite sidesof the eye 15, which holds the upper end of the king-bolt 14, and arebetween the lugs 7 at the rear side of the bolster or head-block 3.

If desired, the eye or socket 15, in which the upper end of theking-bolt 14 is held, may be formed integrally with the forward ends ofthe perch plates or braces 22 or with the tie-plate 24, which connectssaid parts, in lieu of being formed as a part of the headblock plate orrest 5, as shown in the drawings.

The improved fifth-wheel constructed as above described is of anextremely simple and inexpensive nature, since it comprises but fewparis and these are constructed and arranged in such a manner as to giveto the completed device the maximum of strength and durability. By'reason of the engagement of the stops 25 on the forward ends of theperch irons or braces 22 with the lugs or ears 26 on the projecting rearpart of the head-block plate or rest 5 it will also be seen that thefront ends of the reaches 4 are connected to the said plate or rest 5,as Well as to the bolster 3, to which they are connected by the boltslwhich secure the tie-plate 24 thereto, so that the strain which wouldotherwise be imposed wholly upon the connections between the tie-plateand the bolster is divided, and the consequent liability of breakage ofthese parts is reduced toa minimum. The construction of the lower circlewith a transverse brace also adds materially to t-he strength of thispart, and the construction of the lower brace or cross-bar 16 withintegral clip-ties 18 at its ends insures a simple and inexpensive meansfor securely connecting the ends of said brace or cross-bar under theaxle and also for connecting the lower circle S to the axle andaxle-bed.

It will also be obvious from the above description that the improvedfifth-Wheel constructed according to my invention is capable ofconsiderable modification without material departure from the principlesand spirit of the invention, and for this reason I do not wish to beunderstood as limiting myself to the precise form and arrangement of theseveral parts of the device as herein set forth.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secureby Letters Patent, irs- 1. In a fifth-wheel for vehicles, thecombination of a head-block, a head-block plate secured thereto andhavinga central king-bolt eye, a perch-brace and devices carried by saidperch-brace and head-block plate on opposite sides of said centralking-bolt eye and adapted for mutual engagement to hold said partslocked together, substantially as set forth.

2. In a fifth-Wheel for vehicles, the combination of a head-block, ahead-block plate secured thereto and provided with lugs, andperch-braces having their forward ends recessed and provided with stopsat the ends of said recesses to engage said lugs on the headblock plate,substantially as set forth.

3. In a fifth-wheel for vehicles, the combination of a head-block, ahead-block plate secured thereto and provided with lugs, perchbracesconnected at their foward ends by a tie-plate and provided on theirunder sides with recesses to receive the lugs on the headblock plate,the said braces having, at the ends of said recesses, stops to engage infront of said lugs on the head-block plate, and means for securing saidtie-plate to the headlock, substantially as set forth.

4. In a fifth-wheel for vehicles, the combination of a head-block, ahead-block plate secured to and arranged under the head-block andprovided with a widened part which projects at one side of thehead-block and is formed with a central king-bolt eye and with lugs onopposite sides of said eye, and perchbraces having their forward endsconnected to the head-block and provided with recesses to receive thelugs on the projecting part of the head-block plate, substantially asset forth.

l In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of twowitnesses.

WILLIAM KNAPP. lVitnesses:

IV. H. MCCUNLY, XV. P. BIDDLE.

IOO

IIO

